Research
and Markets has announced the addition of the "Inorganic and Composite
Printed Electronics 2008-2018" report to their offering.

This report is suitable for all companies developing or interested in the opportunity
of printed or thin film electronics materials, manufacturing technologies or
complete device fabrication and integration. It looks at inorganic technologies
beyond conventional silicon for semiconductors, conductors, displays, photovoltaics
and much more. Company profiles and forecasts are given.

The future $300 billion market for printed electronics is emerging via thin
film electronics. The contribution of organic materials to this is greatly publicised
and it has attracted over one thousand participants already. However, the best
devices being developed usually rely on inorganic or combined inorganic/organic
technology that is little publicised. The more select groups developing these
inorganic materials and devices have a great future.

It is often argued that the inorganic options are interim, because the progress
is coming to an end whereas organics are "future proof". Nothing could
be further from the truth. For conductors with vastly better conductance and
cost, for the best printed batteries, for quantum dot devices and for transistor
semiconductors with ten times the mobility, look to the new inorganics. That
is the emerging world of new nanoparticle metal and alloy inks that are magnitudes
superior in cost, conductivity and stability, such as the flexible zinc oxide
based transistor semiconductors working at ten times the frequency and with
best stability and life, along with many other inorganic materials. Read the
world's only report that pulls all this together in readable form.

Detailed forecasts

In 2008, it is found that the amount spent on inorganic electronic components
and inorganic materials for composite components will be $861 million - more
than that spent on organic electronics. Much of this is in fairly mature markets
- metal flake ink used for conductors in heated windscreens, membrane keyboards
and circuit boards; and disposable sensors for the multi billion glucose sensor
labels sold yearly. However, also making an impact in 2008 in this figure are
electrophoretic, electroluminescent and electrochromic displays, laminar batteries
and thin film photovoltaics such as CIGS and CDTe devices.

In 2008 inorganic semiconductors will begin to be sold from companies such
as Kovio for RFID tags, being able to perform to existing RFID tag standards
thanks to much higher mobilities than organic semiconductors.

It is found that, in 2018, of a total $46.94 billion market (which includes
printed and thin film displays, logic, memory, photovoltaics, power and sensors),
the amount spent on inorganic components as a whole or in composites with organics
will be approximately 49.3% - $23.15 billion. This highlights the importance
of inorganic printed electronics and the opportunity for companies to be involved.

With over 135 tables and figures, this report critically compares the options,
the trends and the emerging applications. It is the first in the world to comprehensively
cover this exciting growth area. The emphasis is on technology basics, commercialisation
and the key players. This report is suitable for all companies developing or
interested in the opportunity of printed or thin film electronics materials,
manufacturing technologies or complete device fabrication and integration.

Technologies covered

The report considers inorganic printed and thin film electronics for displays,
lighting, semiconductors, sensors, conductors, photovoltaics, batteries and
memory giving detailed company profiles not available elsewhere. The coverage
is global - with companies from East Asia to Europe to America covered in this
report. The full contents list is shown at the bottom of this page.

The application of the technology in relation to other types such as organic
electronics and silicon chips is given, with detailed information clearly summarised
in over 135 tables and figures.

Value chain dynamics studied

For some, it becomes a matter of "Shall I make the new inorganics printable?"
or "Shall I make organics work better?" Not everyone is jumping the
same way. Indeed there is a spectrum of choice as shown in the figure below.
Here we are simplifying in calling the right side "organic" because
it almost always involves metal conductors, just as the left side often involves
organic substrates. The technologies live together - and that is not just an
interim stage.

This report is essential for all those wishing to understand this technology,
the players, opportunities and applications, to ensure they are not surpassed.

Graphene oxide membranes have been receiving attention for their extremely powerful separation abilities and the ease at which it can be modified, allowing for membrane permittivity to be fine-tuned. These membranes show the potential to be used for water purification, ‘green’ gas purification and greenhouse gas capture.